If you're thinking about getting a refurbished Dell Axim which is currently $30 off the $199 list price, think again. Dell is playing a game. The refurbished Axims are running PPC2002, although their reps on the phone will tell you the ship with 2003. If, however, you want 2003, it will cost you -- all together now -- $30, bringing the total to $199, or the price of a brand new Axim with a longer warranty.

As a bonafide broadcast news correspondent, I spent days seeking comment from Dell. After promising a prompt response in three conversations, they now refuse to return telephone calls. So beware: Dell is running what certainly appears to be a marketing scam. Don't fall for it.

The investigation continues.

lol

I have never heard of anybody receiving, nor Dell telling anybody, of a refurb coming with 2003. Someone actually told you a refurb would come with 2003? I would be pretty upset if that were the case as well.

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Their site clearly says PPC 2002 premium http://www.dell.com/us/en/dfh/produc...es_pda_snp.htm

I'm sorry if I'm being presumptious, but this guy just shows up, his first post and starts accusing Dell of a massive marketing scam? That's what the lol was for

Agreed, it seemed odd, but that was the "selling" story. But you do have to ask yourself whether it truly makes sense or not, what is Dell thinking? Why would it sell a refurbished unit at what turns out to be the same price as a new unit? It sure seems the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. There needs to be disclosure both verbally and on Dell's Website that "our refurbished prices may or may not be better than purchasing a new unit."

There isn't actually a refurb unit on the site for under $two hundred something. They're selling them with all kinds of accessories, one of them actually costs $600!

edit...
I see what you're saying, but did you but this unit over the phone by any chance? Because if you did, they definately could have lied to you about it...seems kinda stupid that they'd do that though.

edit again...
then again, this is Dell we're talking about

Trust me. I'm not new to technical stuff. Dell played a game. And yes, some of the offers are tremendous when they come with extras. But roughly two weeks ago, Dell was pushing nearly 30 refurbed Axims -- each by "part number" -- and when confirmed by telephone, a rep went out of his way to guarantee that the units would come with ppc2003. "How could it not?" he asked. "You could buy a new one for the price it would cost you to upgrade." I suspect Dell's current lack of $169 Refurbished Axim's might have something to do with a feared PR problem.

Slow news day?

Later,
James

  

Bonafied Broadcast news correspondent...

This is no different than someone selling refurbed pc's with 98 right after XP ships. 'Dat's what you get. Take off the hat with the tinfoil lining and chill. Were you partnered with Geraldo on your last assigment?
JR

 

This was actually a secret plan I came up with to bilk thousands, well just 30 people out of their hard earned money. Dell was just my Patsy.

Sorry couldn't resist

John Wilker
blog

Right when I seen this thread, I was getting ready to click "add reply" to saw the same thing.. till I saw your reply, lol

PC ( Linux ) and Apple user- Windows repairer... lol
--Apple machines--
Apple Powerbook G4 1.5ghz 12" w/dvd burner, gforce5200 64mb, dvi, 1gb ram... just gotta wait till christmas!
-- Mac Mini-1gb DDR ram-1.42ghz-ATI 9200 graphics( runs unreal 2004 perfect) M-Audio USB 7.1 External Sound -80gb
--G3 PowerMac Server--
450Mhz 1mb Cache G3 PowerPC
80 + 30 GB HD's 1GB Ram
--Linux Box.... PII 233Mhz 6gb

If you had done your homework you would have noticed that PPC03 is buggy as heck.

Dell prob DID you a favor by shipping exactly what their refurb web site said what was going to be installed.

That's one reason I bought a refurbed unit....PPC02 and price.

Here's 35 cents. There's a phone just outside the door.

PPC2002 works great on my Axim 400.
I don't think I will upgrade to MM2003
unless it is free and I can switch back
to PPC2002 anytime I want to.

HaHa I have one, do you?

I think you can chalk that up to a sales rep not know what the heck he's/she's selling.